YOUNG CRIMINALS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 156, 20 July 1937, Page 5

YOUNG CRIMINALS

-Press Association.)

Treatment of Delinquency in Children EDUCATION ADDRESS

(By Telegrraph-

DUNEDIN, Last Night. He had been told that there was little delinquency in New Zealand. said Dr. E. G. Malherbe, Director of the National Bureau of Education, Pretoria, who discussed its treatment and prevention at tho New Education Fellowship conference to-day. "If that is so I congratulate you," he continued. "Going to the devil on the part of youth is as old as manltind, but ctime is becoming more preeoeious, for which the pa.ee of modern life can no doubt be held responsible. Difficult adjustments have to be made and transition periods are dangerous, The ' born eriminal' is a myth and that is a faei that gives hope to educationists. » ' Dr. Malherbe referred to physiological and glandular deficiencies, which predisposed to' delinquency. Lack of appreciation of the consequences of orime was much exaggerated as a cause. Many criminals were of very high intelligence. As a class they were foolish but not fools. Thwarting of instincts was a third eause discussed by the lecturer, and ne mentioned that among other causes was a feeling of inferiority, a desire for adventure, bad home life and lack of understanding and protection. "Cities aTe graves of the human spirit," he said, commenting on the effect of apartment houses on children. "What can education do?" he went on. ' ' It must not preach. It must be human. A child 's self-respeet must not be hurt and that calls for understanding. Never tell a child that he is a f ailure. ' ' The great need in New Zealand was for more trained officers with degrees in phychology to iuvestigat delinquency. ' ' Visiting teachers ' ' to investigatc bome circumstances in difficult cases could be very useful officers. It was essential that society should break the habit of branding a child a eriminal. After-care was equally essential. "But the great thing," Dr. Malherbe conuluded, "is that we should have faith again in the reformed delinquent."